Jack Draper defeated Francisco Cerundolo to arrange a fourth-round conflict with Novak Djokovic within the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
The Briton claimed a 6-1 7-5 victory and can now face Djokovic for the primary time since Wimbledon in 2021, when the Serb gained in 4 units on the way in which to the sixth of his seven titles on the All England Membership.
Djokovic booked his place within the fourth spherical earlier within the day as he beat American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 1-6 6-4 to achieve the final 16 for the primary time since 2017.
“The tennis is one factor. The particular person and the participant I have been watching since I used to be a younger boy… in my view he is the best participant of all time,” Draper informed Sky Sports activities.
“He is proven yr in, yr out by his consistency that he is the largest champion of all of them.
Highlights of the Indian Wells match between Novak Djokovic and Aleksandar Kovacevic
“If you go up in opposition to him you realize he’ll be there mentally, you realize he’ll make it an extremely robust match and play some loopy tennis, and I will must be prepared for that and up my sport.
“Positively going to must compete exhausting and put together nicely.”
Draper opened the defence of his Indian Wells crown with a victory over Roberto Bautista Agut as he continues his comeback from a prolonged harm lay-off.
The 24-year-old gained 79 per cent of first-serve factors in opposition to Cerundolo however transformed simply six of 14 break factors as he was pushed exhausting within the second set.
“Within the final eight months I’ve actually wished to be again out on court docket however needed to settle for that it was going to be a reasonably long-term harm I used to be going to have,” he stated.
“It is actually good to get again within the feeling the place I will play back-to-back matches as a result of there was some extent the place if I performed one observe session I could not do one other one.
“To be right here, I am very grateful whatever the approach I am enjoying.”
Highlights of the Indian Wells match between Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur
Britain’s Cameron Norrie, the 2021 champion at Indian Wells, additionally superior to the fourth spherical because of a 6-4 6-4 win over sixth seed Alex de Minaur.
Pegula comes from behind to progress
Highlights of the Indian Wells match between Jessica Pegula and Jelena Ostapenko.
Jessica Pegula got here from a set right down to e book her place within the subsequent spherical with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
The win noticed the American produce 11 aces, essentially the most she has ever managed in a WTA Tour match.
“I feel immediately I needed to form of snap myself again and form of lock in, as a result of [the negativity] then clearly it begins to have an effect on all the things,” Pegula stated in press afterward. “I stored telling myself I wasn’t truly enjoying unhealthy.
“It is one factor you are pissed off you are not enjoying nicely. I did not suppose I used to be enjoying unhealthy. I assumed I used to be enjoying fairly nicely. It was simply letting a pair possibilities, couple breaks right here and there, possibly a pair photographs that I might have been extra aggressive on.”
Belinda Bencic in the meantime defeated Elise Mertens 6-2 6-3 and Karolina Muchova beat Antonia Ruzic 6-0 6-3.
Watch the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells dwell on Sky Sports activities till March 15. Stream tennis with NOW, contract-free.
